A SCHOOLBOY is on the road to recovery after having a life-saving liver transplant.

Mitchell Robinson, 9, has had a rocky start to life - he suffered a stroke at 18 months and was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease at the age of four.

He then had his spleen removed two years ago and was diagnosed with a liver condition in January this year.

The nine-year-old's health was deteriorating rapidly when a donor was found for him after a four-month wait.

He had the operation two weeks ago and is now recovering at St James's University Hospital in Leeds.

Mum Sharon, 38, from Longfield Close, Parkway Estate, South Shields, said: "He's improved dramatically in the last two weeks. He's started asking for food, he's eating and he's on his feet."

Mitchell's dad, David, 38, a self-employed mechanic, is staying in Leeds, while Ms Robinson and his sisters, Sherri, 16, and Lily, four, visit as often as they can.

His mum had been due to give him a piece of her liver, after tests showed she was a suitable match.

When a donor liver was found, the family's happiness was tinged with sadness, as it came from an 11-year-old girl.

"That upset us," said Ms Robinson. "We assumed it would be from an adult but when we found out it was from a little girl, I felt for her family and I will remember them every day for the rest of my life."

It is not known how the little girl died, but the family understand she saved the lives of four others by donating her organs.

Mitchell suffered a slight setback when fluid was found on his lungs and diaphragm and he was taken back to theatre for more surgery.

But his family are hoping to have their son home soon.

Ms Robinson said: "We're absolutely over the moon. Before the transplant, he was deteriorating quite rapidly.

"That is why they were trying to hurry him through. He was sleeping all day and he wasn't eating anything at all.

"We're hoping for miracles, thinking he will be playing football tomorrow, but it will take a few months for him to get running around."

Mitchell has battled his way through a series of health problems since suffering a stroke at the age of 18 months.

He was diagnosed with auto-immune disease Evans syndrome at the age of four, and had an operation to remove his spleen in 2006.

His family were told he needed a new liver after being diagnosed with hepatopulmonary syndrome, a rare complication of liver diseases, in January.

* To join the NHS Organ Donor Register call 0845 60 60 400 (24 hours) or log onto www.uktransplant.org.uk